However, there were cultures that considered that offering bread and salt at a meeting was a sign of welcome and a guarantee of peace. In Italy, the first press of olive oil is celebrated with flat bread, sprinkled with rock salt and olive oil.
Typically, coastal peoples had easy access to salt, whereas inland peoples often had to travel to salt sources and carry back what was needed. Where there were few traders, salt was a greatly desired product that was hard to come by... just like in the Unreal World. heh